Rogue trader appeals to Hollande before jail deadline

Issued on: 18/05/2014 - 12:37Modified: 18/05/2014 - 12:49

Jerome Kerviel, former trader of French bank Societe Generale, waves to supporters as he arrives on the Italian side of the border with France near the French town of Menton, May 17, 2014.REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Convicted rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel, who faces a Sunday deadline to return to France to begin a three-year prison term, has demanded an audience with President François Hollande. He wants the president to grant immunity to potential witnesses who could testify in his favour.

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"French police can come and get me," the rogue trader said from the Italian border town of Ventimiglia, as a deadline for him to visit Menton police department is set to expire by 3:00pm on Sunday.

Kerviel was supposed to cross the border from Italy to France on Saturday, but in a change of heart, the 37-year-old said he would not return until he met with the French president.

He said he wished to present François Hollande with "all the serious failings" that led to his three-year conviction after he brought one of Europe's biggest banks to near collapse.